Category: Health

Taking a daily fibre supplement has been shown to boost brain function in older adults in just 12 weeks, paving the way for a new weapon in the fight against dementia. The study showed that the simple and cheap addition of prebiotics – plant fibres that help healthy bacteria grow in your gut – to...

Babies are dying unnecessarily or being left brain damaged due to a failure to adopt a simple test for heart defects, doctors writing in the Lancet journal have warned. Pulse oximetry takes five minutes and measures a baby’s oxygen levels. But doctors writing in the journal say that the National Screening Committee (NSC) is yet...

A recent study provides new insights into how maternal and fetal genes contribute to the growth of a baby’s cerebral cortex, the brain’s outer layer responsible for many of its higher functions. Published in Nature Communications, the research not only underscores the genetic variants linked to higher birth weight and an enlarged cerebral cortex but...

THOUGH we know that exercising regularly is one of the cornerstones of good health, sometimes it can seem like a chore to drag ourselves to the gym or go on that run we’ve been putting off the whole day. On top of this, our lives have certainly become more sedentary. It can be hard to...

HUNDREDS of thousands of Brits are at risk of shingles, as experts warn more must be done to get the age group vaccinated. Last autumn, the NHS rolled out a jab called Shingrix to people 65 and over 70 to protect them from the agonising skin condition. Many Brits don’t know if they are eligible for...

“Shrinking your stomach” is a proven way to reduce hunger, and choosing the right foods can help slimmers achieve this. Foods high in fibre and protein can help to do this, according to a nutritionist. While is it not possible to actually reduce the size of the stomach naturally, those hoping to lose weight can...

Specific patterns in DNA can determine whether or not we develop insomnia, a new study has shown. Researchers from the Netherlands collected genetic information from 2,500 unborn babies and followed them up until the age of 15, taking measurements of their sleeping patterns. They found those with genes known to influence sleep were more likely...

The opening of a new cancer centre at a hospital has been delayed. The Dyson Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospital Bath (RUH) will now expect patients in spring 2024, rather than at the end of 2023. The RUH said this was due to a shortage of engineers. Libby Walters, RUH chief financial officer,...

EATING strawberries could slash your risk of dementia, a study shows. Feasting on Britain’s favourite fruit every day can help reduce chances of the brain-eating disease, US researchers found. Eating strawberries every day could lower your risk of dementia, a study showsCredit: Getty Dr Robert Krikorian, of the University of Cincinnati, said strawberries — as...

A woman who was left nearly blind partly due to a delay in treatment for an eye condition has said she “wouldn’t wish it on anybody”. Susan Clarke, 58, was awarded £200,000 compensation in October after Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust admitted medical negligence which partly contributed to her loss of vision, which...